And william h



Nov. 8, 1932.

F- C. LAVARACK ET AL TRUNKING RI SER CONNECTER Filed April 5, 1929 2 II IIII A E. 5)., Q XWATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK C. LAVARACK, 0F MON'ICLAIR, NEW JERSEY, AND WILLIAM H. B. LAVA- RACK, GE PINE BUSH, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO RAILROAD ACCESSORIES CORPO- RATION, @F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW Y'ORK TRUNKING RISER CONNECTEE Application filed April 5, 1929.. Serial No. 352,675.

This invention relates to conductors and especially to such conductors as are used in railway signalling to make electrical connection to a track rail and more especially for making electrical connection between a conductor positioned in trunking and a track rail.

It is well understood by those familiar with the art of railway signalling that electrical connection must frequently be made between a track rail and an adjacent conductor. This adjacent conductor is frequently made to approach in close proximity to the track by being laid in trunking. The trunking may be positioned somewhat parallel and alongside of the rail or it may be positioned vertically, issuing from the ground in close proximity to the rail. In the latter case it is known as a bootleg or riser.

The wire or wires extending from the trunking to the rail are generally bare conductors and are exposed to view and there fore are likely to be damaged by the elements and also likely to be pulled or bent about by laborers working on or about the track. It is necessary therefore to make the connection between the exposed wires and the conductor in the trunking so that it will not deteriorate electrically and is also mechanically very resistant to the abuse to which exposed wires may be subjected.

A principal object of applicants invention is to provide a means for easily and conveniently making a connection between a trunking conductor and a track rail Wire orwires which will be efficient electrically and very strong mechanically.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of a particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing and the several views thereof in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a rail of a trackway together with supporting tics, a trunking, rail wires, and applicants invention in position upon the top of the trunking; Fig. 2, is a top plan View of a device embodying applicants invention; Fig. 3, is a cross-sectional elevational view of the device as shown by 2 on the plane indicated by the line Hit-HI of Fig. 2 viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 4, is a side elevational view of the device as shown in Fig. 2 as applied to a trunking riser, with certain parts broken away to more clearly show the construction; Fig. 5, is a cross-sectional elevational view of the device as shown by Fig. 2 on the plane indicated by the line VV of Fig. 2 viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line.

Applicants device, in the particular embodiment shown on the drawing, is in the general form of a somewhat oval plate 1 formed with two orifices 2 and 3 therein for the reception of cap screws or any other suitable form of fastening by means of which it may be attached to the desired body such as trunking or a trunking riser. The plate 1 is provided with a raised portion 4. This raised portion, somewhat intermediate its ends, is provided, in the form shown, with two grooves 5 and 6. These grooves are preferably substantially semi-circular in cross-section and lie so closely adjacent that a mere fin is between them and if two wires of suitable diameter are laidtherein the wires substantially touch each other. These grooves are substantially parallel and extend the full width of the raised portion 4.

At some appropriatepoint, preferably approximately at the center of the plate, an orifice 7 is formed. This orifice is for the reception of the bared end 8 of an electrical conductor 9. The bared end 8 of this conductor issues from the orifice 7, is then bent nearly at aright angle and then lies substantially parallel and above the two grooves 5 and 6.

Above the wire 8 is a plate 10 suitably pierced as at 11 and 12 for the reception of cap screws 13 and 14. These cap screws pass through the plate 11 and are threaded into orifices 15 and 18 in the raised portion 4 of the plate 1.

In use, two wires, as 17 and, 18, are laid in the two grooves 5 and 6 with the wire 8 positioned just above and between them and then the plate 10 is forceddownwardly by the cap screws 13 and 14 so as to bring the wires 8 firmly into contact with the wires 17 and 18 and the wires 17 and 18 firmly into contact with the grooves 5 and 6 of the raised portion a of the plate 1. By so arranging the parts good electrical contact is made between wire 8 and wires 17 and 18 and this electrical contact is permanent because the cap screws 13 and 1 1 are made of such size that a sufiicient pressure can be created between the several wires and the grooves 5 and 6 and the plate 10 to cause such an intimate contact that it the parts are bright and unoxidized when placed together they will resist the deleterious action of the weather and remain bright and unoxidized and in good electrical connection.

The connection between the wires will not only be good electrically but it will be most secure mechanically, because wires will be so clamped that no ordinary and few extraordinary forces to which they are likely to be subjected will be suificient to tear them apart.

In order to better the electrical contact between the wires applicants prefer to extend the end of the wire 8, as shown in Fig. 2. such a distance from the plate 10 that opportunity will be given to apply a thorough coating and oining of solder 19 around and between wires 8, 17 and 18.

In order to protect wire 8 between its point of emergence from the orifice 7 and its point of passing in the plate 10 two ribs 20 and 21 are formed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These ribs are so positioned that they thoroughly protect the wire 8 so that it may not be accidently struck by some passing object.

When the conductor is used in connection with a metallic riser, as shown in Fig. 4, fibre insulation, as plate 23 is interposed between the plate 1 and the riser 22 and insulating sleeves as 24 surround the bolts or cap screws as 25. There are also insulating washers 26 between the bolt heads 25 and the plate 1.

Applicants device as applied to the top of a trunking 26 is shown in Fig. 1. This trunking extends alongside of and parallel to a track rail 27 and rests upon the ends of the ties as 28 upon which the rail 27 rests. The wire 9, laid in the trunking 26 goes up through a hole in the top of the trunking and issues through the hole in the plate 1. Thetwo wires 17 and 18 coming from the track rail are bonded to the web of the rail in any suitable and appropriate manner. The plate 1 is attached to the trunking by fastening means as 30 and 31 which may be ordinary wood screws or bolts.

Applicants device assembled as hereinberaeaava fore described offers a most etficient mechanical connection between track rail wires and a trunking wire. Tt clamps those wires in a manner and with a force suiiicient to prevent their removal by ordinary and by most extraordinary forces to which they may be subjected. Tt afiords a means for connecting track rail wires and a trunking wire which necessitates the use of no tools other than the ordinary wrenches usually found in maintainers tool kits. The connection is electrically of good conductivity because bright metal is brought intimately in contact and squeezed so forcibly into contact that the surface is not afiected by weather conditions. Tf heating means are available the added feature of solder may be applied to the washers.

Although we have particularly described one particular physical embodiment of our invention and explained the principle and the operation and construction thereof, nevertheless, it is desired to have it understood that the form selected, is merely illustrative but does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of means underlying our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. As a connector for electrical conductors, in combination; an electrical conducting plate formed with two adjacent, parallel, substantially semi-circular grooves positioned so close together that wires laid therein will nearly touch each other; a wire laid in each groove; a third wire positioned above and between the first two wires and touching each; a plate positioned above the third wire and means securing the second named plate to the first named plate, said first mentioned plate formed with an orifice through which said third wire extends.

2. As a connector for electrical conductors, in combination; an electrical conducting plate formed with two adjacent, parallel, substantially semi-circular grooves positioned so close together that wires laid therein will nearly touch each other; a wire laid in each groove; a third wire positioned above and between the first two wires and touching each; a plate positioned above the third wire; means securing the second named plate to the first named plate, said first mentioned plate formed with an orifice through which the third wire extends; and means for protecting said third wire between its point of emergence from the first mentioned plate and its point of passing under the second mentioned late. p 3. As a connector for electrical conductors, in combination; an electrical conducting plate formed with two adjacent, parallel, substantially semi-circular grooves positioned so close together that wires laid therein will nearly touch each other; a wire laid in each groove; a third wire positioned above and beeemm tween the first two Wires and touching each; a plate positioned above ihe third Wire, means for securing the third plate t0 the first named plate and solder connecting all three Wires clesely adjacent the plate FREDERICK C. LAVARAGK. WILLIAM H. B. LAVARACK. 

